With the Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin imminent, two timely Annual Meeting sessions will outline the scientific evidence on the use of race as one factor in university admissions, as outlined in the AERA et al amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the implications of the coming ruling to higher education.

A teach-in cosponsored with Division J (Postsecondary Education), Division L (Educational Policy and Politics), and the Social Justice Action Committee will focus on key next steps in research, post-Fisher, on Monday, April 29, 8:15 to 10:15 a.m., in the Hilton Union Square, Lobby Level – Plaza B.

That afternoon, another co-sponsored session will key in on the scientific evidence that underlies the education and scientific communities’ support of affirmative action, and that is at the core of AERA’s amicus brief in the Fisher case.

The April issue of Educational Researcher (ER) features a special section devoted to Fisher, as well as a lineup of articles that look at issues of diversity from a wider lens.  The section includes text of the AERA amicus brief and five commentaries by noted scholars who reflect on the significance of Fisher.

ER editors note that “the empirical evidence for the societal benefits of diversity has grown considerably over the last decade. In addition, the degree to which the evidentiary base has strengthened and solidified in just one decade, since Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger, is striking.”